Animal snares - Littlebourne

Over the past week there have been a number of incidents reported to the police surrounding the use of animal snares in the Littlebourne area of Murdishaw which have led to injuries to domestic pets.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that self locking snares are illegal to use throughout the UK whilst free running snares are legal to use as long as those setting the snares adhere to a list of conditions.

One of the conditions to use free running snares is that the person setting the snare must have land owners permission and another being that snares must not be placed in areas regularly and legitimately used for the exercise of domestic animals, near public footpaths or housing.

So in short the snares found in Littlebourne have not been set legally and if you come across a snare please report it to Halton Borough Council to have the snare removed, in the event an animal is trapped in a snare contact the RSPCA to assist and in all cases contact 101 to have the incident reported to the police with as much information as possible including any information surrounding who may be setting the snares.

All incidents reported thus far have been forwarded to our Wildlife Officer at Runcorn who I will liaise with in this matter.